More good job reviews for city manager

City Manager Michael V. O’Brien received yet another strong collective job performance review from the City Council Tuesday night.

Mr. O’Brien received an overall evaluation grade of 4.55 from the council, based on a scale of one to five.

A 5 would be for superior performance and 1 unacceptable. An overall grade of between 4 and 5 means the city manager is considered to be doing an “above average” job, consistently meets expectations, and often exceeds them.

The manager’s grade is pretty much on target with his evaluation grade of a year ago when he received a 4.56. His highwater mark was two years ago when he received an overall evaluation grade of 4.89.

District 2 Councilor Philip P. Palmieri provided the manager with a perfect overall evaluation grade of 5, praising him for his achievements of the past year and the nine years he has served as Worcester’s chief executive.

“There’s not a city manager around who we would want to depend on to run this city better,” Mr. Palmieri said. “If we didn’t have him, where would be? Look at what has taken place in this city during the last 8-10 years and we’re just beginning; there’s far more to come.

Mr. Rushton said while he has been critical of the city manager’s performance in some areas at times, he is not disappointed in the overall job he has done.

“There’s been a lot of highlights,” he said of the past year. “But the real gems are the things that have not made the headlines, such as quality of life issues that make a community. Overall, it’s been a very good year. (Mr. O’Brien) has done a heck of a job.”

Councilor O’Brien, meanwhile, said while the city manager achieved many notable accomplishments during the past year, he did not personally feel it was one of his best years.

Throughout the evaluation, City Manager O’Brien received praise for his handling of the city’s finances, economic development initiatives, management efficiencies and the delivery of public services.

He received nine scores of 5 in those sub-areas from city councilors.

Mr. Eddy pointed out that while most communities have sat stagnant on economic development, Worcester continues on a path of unprecedented growth.

Ms. Toomey, meanwhile, said quality of life in the city has improved during Mr. O’Brien’s tenure in many areas.

“(The city manager) continued to accomplish what the naysayers said couldn’t be done,” Ms. Toomey said.

Mr. O’Brien thanked the City Council for the evaluations, saying it is a reflection of the body of work done by his administration and city employees.